You, o LORD, are full of compassion and love. We turn to you, Shepherd of our soul.
Lead us to green pastures, we pray; teach us what is good and profitable in your sight. As
your Son has shown compassion to the people of Galilee, show also compassion to us.
Forgive our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, heal our infirmities, and deliver
us from our trials.
We ask these things in the name of our Savior Jesus and through the power of the Holy
Spirit now and forevermore. Amen.
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Sheep
without a Shepherd
a children's sermon based on Mark 6:30
by Rev. Frank Schaefer props: none
"...Jesus saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were
like sheep without a shepherd."
Good morning boys and girls. Today, I didn't bring anything to show you because you can
all help me with this children's sermon. I need you to pretend to be sheep. Now, who knows
anything about sheep? What do they sound like? What do they do? What do they eat? Are they
by themselves or in a group with other sheep? Who makes sure that all the sheep stay
together? (the shepherd).
In today's Bible reading we heard that Jesus felt sorry for the people because they
were like sheep without a shepherd
I need you to be sheep this morning. Can you walk on all fours and go
"baaaaaaaaaaah?" Ok. Here is what I need you to do: walk on all
fours in a perfect circle--one walking after the other going round in a
big circle. (Unless you have very organized kids, they will have
difficulty following this direction)...
Discipleship Needs based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Rev. Karen A. Goltz
Two weeks
ago we heard in our gospel reading that Jesus called the twelve to him and sent
them out on a mission in pairs. They were given authority over unclean spirits,
and they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out demons,
cured many who were sick, and trusted in God for their provisions. After some
undisclosed period of time, they came back to Jesus and told him about their
mission. I kind of wish Mark had been a little more descriptive in what they
said, and how they said it, rather than simply stating that they “told him all
that they had done and taught.”
Were they all fired up with the Spirit, energized and
excited by what they’d accomplished? Did they barely pause for breath as they
told Jesus, “We stayed at this one house where they welcomed us in and invited
all their friends and extended family and we taught them and they listened to us
and we healed some of them who were really sick and it was awesome, and then
there was this other house where it was like everyone was possessed with demons
and we told them to come out of the people and they did, and then there was this
other place…” and on and on and on.
Was it like that? Or were they exhausted and a little
overwhelmed by the needs of the people, not quite complaining about how busy
they’d been, but certainly aware that they’d barely dented the surface? “It was
house after house after house. Some of them refused us even though they clearly
needed to hear the good news, and we had to keep walking until we found a place
that would welcome us, and once we got there they were in pretty bad shape so we
had to preach and teach and heal and cast out demons for hours before we could
even get something to eat. And as word spread more and more people came to us,
and it was good that we were able to help so many, but we’ve had very little
sleep and too much road food, and there are so many more who need us but right
now my brain is just leaking out of my ears!”
Anyone who has taken their call to discipleship seriously, either in a mission
field far away or right here in your own church and neighborhood, can relate to
both scenarios. Doing God’s work can be energizing and exciting. But
it can also be exhausting.
Sheep
without a Shepherd